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IPEN Body Burden Community Monitoring Handbook Perfluorooctane SulfonateChemical Name: Perfluorooctane Sulfonate, C8F17SO3 CAS Number: The perfluorooctane sulfonate anion (PFOS) does not have a specific CAS number. The acid and salts have the following CAS numbers: acid (1763-23-1) ammonium (NH4+) salt (29081-56-9) diethanolamine (DEA) salt (70225-14-8) potassium (K+) salt (2795-39-3) lithium (Li+) salt (29457-72-5) Properties: Solubility in water: 550 mg/l in pure water at 24-25°C; the potassium salt of PFOS has a low vapour pressure, 3.31 x 10-4 Pa at 20°C. Due to the surface-active properties of PFOS, the Log Kow cannot be measured. Discovery/Uses: PFOS-related chemicals are used in a variety of products, including as surface-treatments of fabric for soil/stain resistance, coating of paper as part of a sizing agent formulation and in specialized applications such as fire fighting foams. The 3M Company, which started commercial production of PFOS in 1948, is the dominant producer. 3M started scaling back production in 2000. Production of PFOS by 3M is expected to decline to zero by the end of 2002 Persistence/Fate: PFOS does not hydrolyze, photolyze or biodegrade under environmental conditions. It is persistent in the environment and has been shown to bioconcentrate in fish. It has been detected in a number of species of wildlife, including marine mammals. Animal studies show that PFOS is well absorbed orally and distributes mainly in the serum and the liver. The half-life in serum is 7.5 days in adult rats and 200 days in Cynomolgus monkeys. The half-life in humans is, on average, 8.67 years (range 2.29 – 21.3 years, SD = 6.12). Toxicity: The substance shows moderate acute toxicity to aquatic organisms, the lowest LC50 for fish is a 96-hour LC50 of 4.7 mg/l to the fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) for the lithium salt. For aquatic invertebrates, the lowest EC50 for freshwater species is a 48-hour EC50 of 27 mg/l for Daphnia magna and for saltwater species, a 96-hour LC50 value of 3.6 mg/l for the Mysid shrimp (Mysidopsis_bahia). Both tests were conducted on the potassium salt. The toxicity profile of PFOS is similar among rats and monkeys. Repeated exposure results in hepatotoxicity and mortality; the dose-response curve is very steep for mortality. PFOS has shown moderate acute toxicity by the oral route with a rat LD50 of 251 mg/kg. Developmental effects were also reported in prenatal developmental toxicity studies in the rat and rabbit, although at slightly higher dose levels. Signs of developmental toxicity in the offspring were evident at doses of 5 mg/kg/day and above in rats administered PFOS during gestation. Significant decreases in fetal body weight and significant increases in external and visceral anomalies, delayed ossification, and skeletal variations were observed. A NOAEL of 1 mg/kg/day and a LOAEL of 5 mg/kg/day for developmental toxicity were indicated. Studies on employees conducted at PFOS manufacturing plants in the US and Belgium showed an increase in mortality resulting from bladder cancer and an increased risk of neoplasms of the male reproductive system, the overall category of cancers and benign growths, and neoplasms of the gastrointestinal tract. Source: UNEP Chemicals, Regional Reports of the Regionally Based Assessment of Persistent Toxic Substances Program (2002) Available from: http://www.chem.unep.ch/pts UNEP Chemicals 11-13, chemin des Anemones CH-1219 Chatelaine, GE Switzerland. 
IPEN Body Burden Community Monitoring Handbook - 2003 |
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